Kayla Cullen Signs for 2012

Friday, 29 July 2011

The Northern Mystics may have one more Silver Fern on their roster in 2012 than they bargained for when they signed Kayla Cullen a couple of weeks back.

The Auckland side have re-signed rising star Cullen for a third season in the transtasman league.

After a breakthrough season in this year's competition, the 19-year-old has long been tipped to be named in the 2011-12 Silver Ferns squad due to be named on Monday.

Mystics coach Debbie Fuller would like to see the versatile youngster named in the team to face England and Australia later this year.

Fuller believes Cullen would "breathe fresh life" into the Ferns team still hurting from an overtime defeat to Australia in the world championship final.

Fuller said that regardless of whether Cullen makes her test debut this year, the athletic teen will be a key member of the Mystics line-up next season.

Cullen, who was named the best young player in the 2011 competition after making the switch from the shooting circle to the defensive end, is expected to continue to cover the wing defence-goal defence slide.

"I'd really enjoy the new challenge, I think, if I was given a go there. I'm up for a new position again. First season, I was a shooter; second season, defence; third season, midcourter would be good," she said.

Cullen had been on the radar of other New Zealand franchises but she said she never entertained any offers from other teams.

Cullen joins Temepara George, Anna Scarlett, and Cathrine Latu on the Mystics roster for 2012.